inside: Sew yourself super comfy shorts with this Women’s Pj Shorts Free Pattern. Sew with knit or woven fabric this PJ shorts pattern is perfect for sleep or lounge wear.
I just can’t stop with the free patterns. I’m loving simple-clean styles and they patterns just whip up so easy- I have to share with you! Today I’ve got a Women’s PJ Shorts free pattern and tutorial for you all. I’ve done so many PJ patterns/tutorials for kids, I thought it was time I get in on that action… These PJ shorts come in sizes xxs-xxl and have two leg lengths. I’m still wearing flannel Pjs around here, but dreaming of spring coming soon and being able to wear these.
Have you joined our FB group? It’s a great place to keep up with the free patterns and also get support on using them.
Womens Pj Shorts Free Pattern
You can find the full long leg version of these with my wide leg lounge pants pattern HERE. I love how my two new pairs turned out. One with knit and the other with a vintage sheet {cotton}.
Here you can see the same size shorts sewn with different fabrics for two fun looks! I also added pockets in the cotton version and the waistbands are different heights.
This is a really fun pattern to make with vintage sheets… like my floral pair. You can also find a capri vintage sheet version in this post here.
You can lengthen the pattern if you also want to use these as lounge wear. I personally like the shorter ones for sleeping, but they are a bit short if I’m going to be around other people. Here are the longer ones in action… perfect for relaxing!
Both shorts fit great, but the knit version is a bit roomier. They both are SO comfortable and I think the floral pair would be fun for wearing out and about as well.
I end up wearing comfy shorts a lot when I’m home… reading… relaxing or gardening.
The short ones are cute too! Great for sleeping and hot summer nights.
Which do you prefer? The 3″ inseam or the 6″ inseam?
Want to make you own cute PJ shorts? Let’s get started with the full photo tutorial. As always, let me know if you have any questions! I’m here to help.
Free Pattern Sewing Tutorial –
PJ Shorts Supplies:
- 1 yard of fabric {maybe just over for the largest sizes}. Use lightweight cotton, vintage sheets or knit fabric. LINK to vintage sheets here.
- satin {or satin-like} for the waistband. 1/4 yard is plenty. You can also use the same fabric as the shorts.
- 2″ or 1.5″ wide elastic- enough to go around your hips.
Print your pattern Women’s Pj Shorts free pattern HERE and let’s get started!
Here is the layout guide.
All Seams are sewn at 3/8″- unless otherwise noted.
Cut out your fabric as instructed on the pattern pieces. The waistband piece is a chart on the pattern. Cut waistband according to chart.
NOTE: This is a very fun pattern to make with vintage sheets… just lay the edge of the pattern on the finished sheet edge. If you want shorter shorts, fold the pattern edge up or cut to shorten.
With right sides together sew the two front pieces together at the crotch seam and the two back pieces together at the same place.
{optional side slit directions} Finish the sides of the front and back pieces with a serger or zig zag. DO NOT sew together yet.
If adding pockets do so now. See pocket directions in LONG Pants version OR video tutorial of this post. You can draw your own pocket piece or use the one in the long pants version – print only pages 23/24 of that pattern for pocket piece.
It’s fun to use a different fabric for the pocket. I like how it peaks in the side seam.
Starting at the top of shorts, sew side seams together at 3/8″ seam allowance until you are 3″ from the bottom of the shorts. {sew around pockets if included} Stop sewing and secure.
Sew the inseam with right sides together. Hem the shorts by folding and pressing up 1/4″ then another 1/2″ to finished hem. Sew {you will have openings on both side seams still}
Now you have hemmed the shorts and you still have an opening like this on the sides.
Turn to the inside of shorts and pin the seam allowance over.
Turn to right side and sew around the slit as shown here.
If you don’t want to add the side slit {I didn’t in my short versions} simply sew side seam and them hem the bottom of your shorts or use a pre-hemmed sheet .
Womens Pj Shorts Free Pattern Waistband
The waistband dimensions listed on the pattern pieces are for 2″ wide elastic. You can easily use 1.5″ elastic by removing 1″ of width from the waistband when cutting. The chart is on the printable pattern pieces, but you can also cut with this chart here.
Lay the waistband piece along the top of the shorts to make sure the length is right. Depending on what fabric you are using you may need to shorten the waistband a bit to fit. Sew the short ends together.
Fold the long edges of the waistband together. Match the seam to the back seam of the shorts, then match the other half to the front seam and work between the two to pin the waistband to the shorts.
Sew the waistband to the shorts and leave a 2″ opening at the back of the shorts to thread the elastic.
Sew the ends of the elastic together then pull it into the waistband and sew the opening closed. Stretch the elastic to spread gathers evenly, and stitch on the side seams to secure elastic in place.
And you are done! They are the same except for the length. The more you wear these, the more comfortable they will be! Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns!
Here’s one last link to go download the pattern in case you missed the first one. Women’s FREE PJ shorts Pattern LINK.
Other Womens patterns you may enjoy!
The Long pant version of these shorts... with soft knit waistband
Womens classic fitted tee – perfect companion to these shorts.
Sarah says
Hi, loves! Sarah here.These PJS are cute and comfy.I love the pjs sets with long (or short) sleeves and pants.For summer when it’s hot and humid i wear them with the shirt and shorts pj sets (below) to keep cool. I usually buy it from online store, found on clothingric .
Megan Harris says
I wish you had a video tutorial because this is kind of difficult to fallow. I’m a TRUE beginner and my attempt was a complete failure. These are supper cute and I still want to make them though.
Theresa says
Thank you.! I’m totally confused on how’s to put the pattern together also.! Can’t find instructions on it nowhere.?
Have you had any luck yet.???
Theresa says
If u email me, I did the layout n taped it together today! Lol,that was a workout. maggie885735@att.net
Veronica MCCLENDON says
Hi Megan!! I had some problems with the explanation too, so I printed the pattern and followed this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orbd-CBUwVM
That really helped..let me know! I’ll show the final results if there’s a way to put a pic here 🙂 Hope to see your shorts too!
Veronica says
Megan try to follow this video first (it’s supersimple and skips some more difficult steps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orbd-CBUwVM) and then when you are ready you can try this version of Emily which is very cute . I used the pattern of Emily and I don’t know why but I had to go one size less (and I did measure myself), so maybe try with some fabric you don’t care about before doing your final..
Good luck Megan 🙂
Veronica says
and this helped with the waistband, I just used elastic , I haven’t figured out how to use the satin fabric yet….but the shorts came out very cute :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJysZyKWx8I
Julia Avers says
Is there a way to download the pattern without going through bluprint?
Emily says
no, not at the moment
Claire says
Hi, I can’t get any of your patterns into the cart on Bluprint. Is there a problem with the website?
Leanne says
I’m confused about the waistband. I have read through the tutorial 5 times and printed the pattern but I do not see a pattern piece or cut chart for the waistband?? Also, tutorial says there is a video for another way to do the waistband and I could not find the video. Thanks!
Emily says
if you have an ad blocker on you will not be able to see the video. it’s in the post
Miki says
Hello 🙂
I have printed the pattern but the sheets identified 4-8-9 and 12 are missing?!?!? Is this normal? Not sure if I can make this project without them…
Thank you 🙂
Claire says
Hello Miki,
I also have some missing pages (number 4, 8, 12) from the file I downloaded on Bluprint in July 2019.
But if you piece the pattern together, it turns out that it goes in lines:
Back piece is 1-2-3, and 5-6-7 (those 2 lines need to be taped together to make the Back piece of the pattern);
Front piece is: 9-10-11, and 13-14-15 taped together.
Hope this help.
Cheers.
Zel says
Hello.
Is the pyjama short an A1/ A4 printout?
Thanks
Helga says
Hello
Just came across your site and keen to try your pj shorts. Are your patterns inclusive of seam allowance or do i have to add this myself. Just want to check before I cut the fabric :-).
Thanks
Krystee says
Cute shorts, confusing pattern. I’m so grateful for the pattern, but maybe it’s worth tweaking a few things like adding a note about the missing pages, adding a pattern piece for the hidden waistband or even just some text about how wide to make it, and adding some clarity about attaching the waistband.
My shorts came out super cute aside from the waistband because I was a little lost. Thank you for taking the time and for sharing this! I am going to make a second pair now that I have a better understanding of where I went wrong
Emily says
Hi! I just added a layout guide for the pattern which should help with the missing pieces. I’m glad you worked it out and sorry it was confusing. I’ve added some text and photos to hopefully help. You should try the waistband method that is in the post video if the other way was confusing.
Jennifer says
Link to the pattern doesn’t work when I click it. 😭 Also, I’m a little confused by blueprint. Does it require paying for a membership to use it?
Jennifer Severson says
Lifesewsavory.com/shop
Emily
Thank you SO much! Your shorts were featured in an allfreesewing email is how I ended up on the site. 45min later… still here with no end in sight.
Elizabeth S says
Have you thought about including pictures of how the pattern pieces should lay on the fabric before cutting?
Another suggested is labeling the pattern pieces to help make sure we follow directions correctly. For example, the first step says to, “ sew the two front pieces together at the crotch seam and the two back pieces together at the same place.” A novice sewer may not know how to read the pattern to know where the crotch seam is.
Thank you for your posting this and for your dedicated assistance!
Shanna Schad says
Hi. I printed out your pattern no issues and transferred the sizes I am going to use with freezer paper so I didn’t have to cut up the original pattern I printed. I made myself a pair and now my kids want matching. Super easy to make and so cute. I wasn’t 100% sure how you sewed in the elastic so I just fed it through the waistband with a safety pin. I only used 1″ elastic since that is all I had and it worked perfectly. Love the use of the satin like fabric for inside the waistband. Great simple pattern. Now to make matching shorts for my kids!
Ruby says
Okay, so I figured it out and I’m going to share to hopefully prevent anyone else making the same mistake! Having never made anything like this before, I didn’t know the curved piece was the gusset and thought it was the leg! (as made longer ones and added 4 inches at the wrong end). So I sewed the legs together instead of the gusset, hence the different lengths! It sounds so obvious but I had to scroll through numerous websites and youtube vids to figure it out because it seems to be something that people assume you’ll just know. 🙁 I feel silly!
As the text goes both ways on the pattern (ie. page numbers opposite way round to text), it wasn’t clear where the top and bottom was so could I suggest putting names on the different sides (like top, bottom, leg, etc)? Going to have another go now and hopefully will go better and I’ll feel less of an idiot :’)
Linda says
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern for free! I added pockets to mine and am in love with the results! I’ll be making plenty more for myself and friends. Thank you again!
Gina Borcherding says
I have some knit fabric that I used to make Christmas pajamas for my youngest grandkids but want to make these shorts for my teen grands so that they match. What would I need to do differently to use a very stretchy knit?
Thank you!
Lori says
Mine turned out to be short waisted. Is there a way to adjust?
Essi says
Hi,
I thought I would try making these shorts.
I cut out the xl size and haven’t started Sewing yet. However, I was wondering why on the xl size the side seams ( front and back) seem to be different lenght ( about 1 cm difference). When Sewing the sides together should I ease in the difference or leave it there and just sew from the top to the point where the front part stops? Hopefully my question made some sense.
julia says
Hi, this pattern is for cotton or knit. I know that there has to be some differences in the pattern for that. If I use knit wouldn’t my size be too big compared to using cotton fabric? Knit stretch’s. If I over looking those instructions, please point me in the right direction. Thank you.
Emily says
It can work for both.. the instructions will tell you how to adapt.